Sam Kargbo(SAN), the Executive Director Civil Empowerment and Rule of Law Support Initiative(CERSLI), has charged journalists practicing in Edo State to interrogate infractions in governance as the state gets prepared for governorship election in 2024.
He made the charge during a maiden seminar on the essentials of writing a freedom of information letter to public and private institutions in Nigeria which was held in Benin City.
Represented by Mr. Tony Abolo, a veteran journalist, Kargbo said: “We believe this seminar comes in handy for two reasons. The first is that Edo State is on the cusp of a governorship election in 2024.
“Issues concerning physical and human infrastructure like roads, health care, education and security of lives and property took centre stage in the past seven years in Edo State.
“There were reports that online and mainstream journalist had difficulties with accessing government information, and this is in spite of the reported interest of most subnational governments like Edo in the Open Government Partnership, OGP, thematic areas of zero tolerance to corruption, citizen participation in governance and access to information.
“Second is the key role that journalists, especially online and freelance journalists can play in interrogating infractions in governance.
“To do this within the ambit: of the law, and avoid issues related to fake news, misinformation, disinformation and unnecessary media censorship with responsible reportage of news-related stories and investigations, this FOI seminar becomes pertinent.”
In his presentation, Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku, Deputy Executive Director of CERLSI, who was the resource person, while discussing the very bare essentials of writing a Freedom of Information(FOI) letter charged the participants to be “strategically positioned to engage state actors to make requests that will lead to promoting free, fair and credible elections in Edo State and Nigeria.”
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